People unaccustomed to other languages generally assume all English words can be readily translated into another language, one-on-one. This is true of many of our American English words.

My wife and I served on short-term missions with a very large church. The church fielded missions throughout the world. Our assignments were all to Cuba.

The lead pastor was a stickler for accountability, something I greatly admired. The staff pastor over Cuba missions held classes on accountability, or so he thought. We met with that pastor. We explained how the English-speaking teacher was teaching personal accountability. However, the interpreters were not correctly translating the subject of accountability. Each time the teacher said accountable, the interpreters would say responsable. We explained that there is no single Spanish word for accountable. The translation is one of two phrases: dar cuentas or rendir cuentas. Give an account or render an account.

What Accountability Is

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines accountability: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. The qualities of being responsible and accountable are very similar, but by no means synonymous.

Getting Personal With Accountability

In my early working years as an engineer with an aerospace defense contractor, we actively exercised accountability. When I was designated as a problem solver, after solving a problem, I wanted others to independently review my work. What are the benefits of personal accountability in the aerospace business? Passengers and crew members live much longer. There is a high probability of success.

If a team member is incompetent in an assigned task, others in the team will readily discover the shortcoming. This helps to avert failures of the mission.

These same principles of accountability apply to spiritual leaders and team members. Accountability guards against moral failures and destructive scandals against the church organization.

Criminal Background Checks Are Not Effective Substitutes for Accountability

Public School Teachers, for Example

• In 2022, approximately 350 K-12 educators were arrested on child sex crimes. Source: Fox News
• In 2015, Texas led the nation in inappropriate student-teacher relationships. Source: Texas Standard
• In 2024, Female teachers were increasingly arrested, tried, and convicted as sex predators of minors. Source: Yahoo! News

Church Volunteers and Staff Members, for Example

• A member of my church, a mother, was convicted of unlawful sexual contact with a minor. She was sentenced to five years in prison. Source: Sky News
• A church music teacher was convicted of unlawful sexual activities with multiple minor children. Source: KRDO News
• Several Texas pastors have been arrested and charged with sex crimes against minor children. Source: Newsweek

How Does Accountability Prevent Child Sexual Abuse?

School and church staff members must never be alone with minors. Periodic rotation of adult accountability partners is a solid deterrent to sexual abuse of minors.

My former pastor had strict rules about church staff members never being alone with the opposite sex. Throughout all the years of his service, staff members were never accused of inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. They were also not accused of inappropriate relationships with minor children in the care of the church.

What Went Wrong???

Employers, church leaders, and public school systems elected the popular ‘criminal background check’ using social security numbers. The criminal background check companies can alert an employer to a criminal history, but they can’t predict future behaviors.

What is the Big Problem with Criminal Background Checks?

The use of big data is not a suitable substitute for personal accountability. Furthermore, the personal information of prospective employees and church volunteers is given over to “big data” companies.

• Background check company breached, nearly 3 billion records exposed in data theft. Source: Mashable
• Over 600,000 people hit in massive data breach — background checks, vehicle and property records. Source: Tom’s Guide
• Every American’s Social Security number, address may have been stolen in hack. Source: Fox 5, Washington, D.C.
• 16 billion passwords leaked in massive data breach. Source: Fox News

From The Social Security Administration: How To Protect Your Social Security Number? | 14 Ways

Identity theft is becoming increasingly common, and a Social Security number is one of the most valuable pieces of information an identity thief can obtain. These thieves can use your SSN to commit fraud and wreak havoc on your financial information. A stolen SSN can lead to fraudulent new loans, credit cards, and other problems. A thief might even be able to access your bank account with your Social Security number and steal cash from your account!

Learn more…

My Point of View

Your Social Security Number (SSN) was never supposed to be used for personal identification except for tax purposes.

I have given you verifiable information. What you do is up to you.

By the way, if a police officer stops and demands identification. You are obligated to produce your Texas Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Within brief moments, the officer will know your criminal background, if there is any.

Scientia Potentia Est

John White
Rockwall, Texas